Man wins $150,000 on N.C. lottery ticket

Contributed photo
Dennis Cochran holds the $150,000 check given to him from the North Carolina Education Lottery after winning on three instant tickets.

FOREST CITY —

Dennis Cochran Jr., a construction worker from Rutherfordton, stopped in a store to buy a tablet charger for his son. While there, he tried his luck with three instant tickets and won $150,000 on the first try, the NC Education Lottery reported.

Cochran said the win prompted a celebration the Mustang II on East Main Street in Forest City, where the ticket was purchased. “I went wild in the store,” he said. “I was crazy. I thought I was dreaming.”

Kail Miers, manager of the Mustang II said Cochran was ecstatic. “He was pretty excited and I was happy to share in his excitement,” she said.

Cochran won the last of four top prizes of $150,000 in the game. After withholdings for federal and state taxes, he received $103,801.

He said he would use his prize money for his family. “Take care of children,” he said. “I’ve got five kids. We may take a small vacation.”

Ticket sales for instant games such as Mega Money Multiplier have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.19 billion for education programs statewide. For details on how more than $19 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Rutherford County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.